LAHORE: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid ordered authorities concerned to enhance dengue surveillance testing in the provincial hospitals and laboratories.
Addressing a meeting of the cabinet committee at the Civil Secretariat on Wednesday, the minister said that dengue should be kept under control and larvicidal activities must continue.
The surveillance testing must be scaled up in the entire province, she said, adding that the commissioners and deputy commissioners must personally monitor the dashboard of dengue statistics.
Dr Yasmin Rashid further said that all the government hospitals had an adequate stock of medicines. Coordination among the concerned departments must be strengthened for effective epidemic response,” she emphasized.
The minister also appealed to the people to keep their homes and offices clean and dry, adding the Health department was providing guidance to people through a helpline.
Dr Yasmin Rashid wormed that no negligence would be tolerated on dengue prevention so the administration would have to stay alert on dengue prevention. The minister informed that the government was undertaking third-party evaluation as well so surveillance must be intensified.
The Health Minister and the Chief Secretary reviewed the preparations for dengue prevention. Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare shared progress measures taken to control dengue spread. The concerned departments presented their respective measures.
Earlier, Dr Yasmin Rashid had said the ongoing projects will be completed in time and provision of funds will be ensured. Dr Yasmin Rashid said this while visiting Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) to review the progress on the ongoing development projects.
She said that the capacity of the PKLI was being enhanced so that patients coming to PKLI might not face any hindrances. Dr Yasmin said that facilities and services were being increased to cater to more patients in the OPD.
The PKLI had good dialysis services available and the number of operation theatres had been increased, the minister. The performance of the PKLI was being closely monitored, she added. She said the patients admitted to the Institute must be given top-quality services.
Later, the minister visited the emergency and operation theatres and inquired from the patients about the treatment. The minister reviewed the ongoing development projects at the PKLI. Chairman PKLI Board of Directors Dr Javed Gardezi and Dean Professor Dr Hafiz Ijaz gave a briefing to the minister about the projects.
